A national meeting was held at the People's Palace of Culture in Pyongyang on the 25th to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the formation of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon).

Present at the meeting were Kang Yun Sok, Vice-Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Jon Sung Guk, Vice-Premier of the Cabinet, Ri Son Gwon, Department Director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, Choe Hui Thae, Chairman of the Pyongyang Municipal People's Committee, officials of the working people's organizations, ministries and national agencies, officials concerned, those related to Chongryon and working people in the city of Pyongyang.

Also on hand were the members of the group of Koreans in Japan for expressing thanks to the homeland led by Jong Song Han, Chairman of the Hokkaido Prefectural Headquarters of Chongryon, on a visit to the socialist homeland to mark the 70th anniversary of Chongryon and overseas compatriots staying in the homeland.

Kang Yun Sok made a report. Upon authorization of the WPK and the DPRK government, he paid noble respects to the functionaries of Chongryon of the first generation who left traces of worthwhile life on the road of patriotism true to the idea of the great leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il on the movement of Koreans in Japan and their leadership and sent warm congratulations to the entire officials of Chongryon and Koreans in Japan who are flying high the flag of the DPRK generation after generation despite all sorts of challenges and trials in an alien land by carrying forward the soul of the patriotic predecessors.

He said Chongryon, which started its work as a product of Juche and patriotism in the vortex of complex history, has made strenuous efforts and played an important role in the van of the Juche-based overseas compatriots' movement over the past 70 years, always remaining faithful to its noble historic mission for the country and nation.

Speaking highly of the immortal exploits of the great leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il who valued and loved Chongryon and Koreans in Japan more than anybody else and trained Chongryon into an example of patriotism and loyalty and a model of overseas compatriots' organizations by preventing the storm and stress of history, he said it is a pride of the DPRK and the Korean people to have such patriotic and devoted overseas compatriots' organization and overseas compatriots as Chongryon and Koreans in Japan.

He said the movement of Koreans in Japan has entered a new stage of development in the new era of Juche revolution and added that the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un has set it as the eternal state policy of the DPRK to attach importance to Chongryon and overseas compatriots since the initial period of his revolutionary leadership and is leading the movement of Koreans in Japan to victory and glory.

He clarified the stand of the DPRK government to do its best to protect the precious Chongryon in every way with strong national power and provide the functionaries of Chongryon and Koreans in Japan with greater dignity and honour in the future, too.

He called upon all to go forward vigorously demonstrating the stamina of the indomitable Koreans under the leadership of Kim Jong Un for the beloved motherland, for the future of Chongryon to be more powerful and prosperous and for peace and happiness of the harmonious, affluent and powerful Korean community.

Then, Jong Song Han, head of the group of Koreans in Japan for expressing thanks to the homeland, made a speech.

Representing the boundless reverence and loyalty of the functionaries of Chongryon and Koreans in Japan, he paid the noblest respects to Generalissimos Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, the eternal leaders of the movement of Koreans in Japan, and offered the greatest honour and warm thanks to the respected Marshal Kim Jong Un who is leading the patriotic cause of Chongryon to victory with his original idea and theory, energetic leadership and benevolent fatherly love.

He stressed that Chongryon, which has written the annals of loyalty and patriotism under the care of the great leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, is more vigorously speeding up the patriotic advance under the wise leadership and warm care of the respected Marshal Kim Jong Un today.

He sincerely wished good health to Marshal Kim Jong Un, the great motherland and representative of all victories and glory, and dignity, for the victorious advance of the Korean revolution and the everlasting prosperity of the motherland and for the strengthening and development of Chongryon and the happiness of the Koreans in Japan, reflecting the infinite loyalty and boundless respect of the officials of Chongryon and Koreans in Japan.